Description

The Vice President for University Advancement reports to the President and serves as an active member of the President’s Cabinet. As the university’s chief advancement officer, this individual leads Missouri Southern’s fundraising and external relations efforts. The Vice President for University Advancement oversees staff and programs in Development, Alumni and Donor Relations, and other units as assigned by the President, such as governmental relations. In addition, through appointment by the Missouri Southern Foundation Board of Directors, the Vice President serves as Executive Director of the Foundation. In this capacity, they report to the Foundation Board of Directors and are responsible for overseeing its business affairs, ensuring the effective stewardship of private gifts, and advancing the mission of the University.

Health and Life Sciences, Immersive Learning, and Global Education are the core pillars of Missouri Southern’s mission and identity. All MSSU employees are expected to support these three areas.  Applicants should be prepared to articulate how they would be able contribute to these areas, understanding their importance to who we are and what we offer our students. For more information about our mission, visit our website. 

To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter, and complete application here.

Requirements

Essential Duties:

Leads a comprehensive university advancement program including all fundraising activities (annual fund, major gifts, corporate and foundation gifts, planned gifts, and campaigns), as well as advancement services and alumni/donor relations.  Reviews and approves all campus fundraising activities to ensure efforts are well-coordinated and focus on the priorities of the university. 

Works closely with the President, leads community and business relations strategies and represents the university externally to multiple constituencies.  

Serves on President’s Cabinet and in that role represents university leadership at both campus and external events.  

Maintains a major gift prospect portfolio and works directly with the President to develop relationships, request support, and ensure effective stewardship of gifts.   

Engages in travel, primarily within region but occasionally beyond region, to fulfill fundraising and other responsibilities.  

Ensures the development database is maintained and enriched to serve as an effective tool for alumni relations and fundraising.

Oversees the program of alumni relations in efforts to engage alumni effectively in the life of the university. 

Manages the financial activity of the Missouri Southern Foundation. This includes preparing the annual budget, monitoring monthly financial statements, ensuring accuracy of billings provided by MSSU, directing fund transfers from the investment accounts to pay MSSU bills, coordinating individual account reporting and fund transfers with the MSSU Business Office, and assisting with the annual audit and Form 990 preparation. 

Oversees the investments for the Foundation. This includes monitoring investment reports prepared by investment managers, income and allocation to individual accounts, and periodic evaluation of spending policies and rates.

Ensures compliance in multiple areas, such as donor-imposed designations, scholarship restrictions, IRS policies, and state and federal statues and laws governing nonprofit organizations.

Oversees the execution of long-range goals and objectives set forth by the Foundation Board of Directors in a manner consistent with the goals and strategic interests of MSSU.

Works directly with the Foundation Board of Directors to develop future plans and resolve current issues with the Foundation.

Serves as a conduit between the University and Foundation in areas such as strategic priorities, funding requests, engagement opportunities, and efforts to support the mission of MSSU.  

Develops scholarship criteria and donor agreement documentation for new accounts.

Manages subordinate supervisors in Alumni Relations, Foundation and Development areas, and other areas as directed by the President. Is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of these units.

Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws.

Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, training employees, planning, assigning, directing work, appraising performance, rewarding and disciplining employees, addressing complaints, and resolving problems.

Other duties as assigned by the President.

Education, Experience, and Licenses

A bachelor’s degree is required from an accredited institution of higher learning, with a masters or doctoral degree preferred.   At least five years of experience in external relations/advancement (higher education, non-profit, or equivalent), with senior level experience preferred.  

Valid Driver’s License and the ability to meet the University’s insurance requirements for driving university owned or leased vehicles.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.  
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.  
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, the general public and board members.
• Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. 
• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Good working knowledge and skill in Microsoft Office suite software.  
• Proven ability to handle confidential and proprietary information. 

Physical Demands/Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, feel or use a computer keyboard and talk or hear.  The employee frequently is required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

NOTICE: The above job profile does not include all essential and nonessential duties of this job. All employees with disabilities are encouraged to contact Human Resources to review and discuss the essential and nonessential functions of the job. An employee with a disability can evaluate the job in greater detail to determine if she/he can safely perform the essential function of this job with or without reasonable accommodation.